Back to Message Board

Mary Jane Morse-Sharp - Class of 1976

Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 05/Jan/2024
71.223.162.184

    Mary Jane "MJ" Morse-Sharp, age 65 was born November 16, 1958 in Newburgh, NY (Orange County) to John Vincent Morse, Sr. and Joan A. Morse (nee Barron). MJ went to Heaven on January 2, 2024 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

MJ was a graduate of Newburgh Free Academy (NFA). Her work pursuits varied and her first position was with Prudential Insurance Company in NY. She had a wandering spirit and made the bold move to relocate from rural Upstate New York to the busy City of Los Angeles (with no job waiting for her). An opportunity in sports presented itself. She interviewed with Walter and Patrick O'Malley's team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The office she interviewed in had a great view of the playing field at the stadium. She wasn't sure how it was going but looked out the window and said "hey that's my team!" the attorney conducting the interview asked are you a Dodger fan and she responded, "No those are my New York Mets. He stopped the interview and said if you have the balls to tell me that I want you on my Team. She got the job and worked for the Legal Department involving patent infringement and licensing.

In time she decided to move back to New York and traveled cross country with her girlfriend stopping wherever they could find adventure. They referred to themselves as Thelma and Louise. Back in New York she became part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and had oversight of the NBA Music Library licensed music and booked events along with the musical acts that performed at Allstar and NBA Finals. She loved her job!

MJ married her husband, William A. Sharp (Bill) on October 25, 1997 and lived in New Windsor, NY where they were both active volunteers with Metropolitan Maltese Rescue in New York City. The spirit moved them to relocate South but not as far as Florida. Moving to Lake Wylie, South Carolina in 2011 MJ landed a job with NASCAR in Charlotte, North Carolina. There she was a Director where she handled music licensing and events. She also worked for Williams & Fudge in Rock Hill, SC

In 2019 the pair moved to Palm Coast, Florida with their two rescues, Teddy and Bonnie. Her first employment was at the Hammock Dunes Resort where she worked as a concierge. MJ made several applications to the Flagler County Library in Palm Coast and the third one was a charm. She started out part time and in due course became a full-time Library Assistant. She was rewarded with a promotion to Library Assistant II and worked primarily in the Passport area. She loved her co-workers and the people she served. When she would be assisting a customer to obtain and Library Card or Passport, sometimes she would say "You're from New York aren't you?" They would respond what tells that and she would answer "Your cell phone number is a giveaway." Her sense of humor will be missed!

MJ loved her gardening and was a Certified Master Gardener in Florida. She was proud of her plants and flowers and loved to tend to them.

MJ is survived by her husband, Bill Sharp; her mother, Joan A. Morse; brothers John Morse, Jr.; Joseph Morse and her nephews, John and Justin Morse; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Judi and Jim Compton; Donna and Art Curran; nieces Jennifer Walton (Bryan); Amy Morgan (Tony); Danielle Delacova; Kaitlin Beeson (Tyler); nephew, Joseph Curran (Kianoush); grand nephews, Brady Walton, Gavin Walton, Bryce Morgan, Jayce Morgan, Aidan Delacova, Quinn Delacova, Micah Curran, Julian Curran, Ellis Beeson and grand nieces, Reese Delacova, Phoebe Beeson, Neeve Curran.

In lieu of flowers, would you please consider donating to SMART Saving Missing Animals Response Team of Flagler County US 501(C) (3) Nonprofit which is located here in Palm Coast, FL. MJ and I have both been rescue volunteers and all of our pups have been rescues. Caroline has been doing a great job in our community and this is a time to give back and honor MJ by donating to the MJ Morse-Sharp Memorial SMART Fund. The link is here. Please be generous!

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday January 10, 2024 in the chapel of Clymer Funeral Home & Cremations, 39 Old Kings Rd. N., Palm Coast, FL 32137, with Fr. Rob Trujillo of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church as officiant. The family will receive friends for visitation before the service, from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.

MJ's family have entrusted her arrangements to Clymer Funeral Home & Cremations.